US lawmaker sets July deadline for Trump’s Iran war powers

A Republican congressman Tom Barrett has introduced legislation that would authorise US President Donald Trump to continue military action against Iran until July 30, while barring US ground troops, occupation or long-term nation-building.

The proposed Authorisation for Use of Military Force (AUMF) sets out a time-limited mandate for what its sponsor says would be a narrowly defined military campaign focused on Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security threats, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media.

Barrett said the bill would give Trump authority to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons programme, prevent threats to Americans, maintain a blockade of Iranian ports and ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for US and allied vessels.

“The Commander in Chief has the sole authority to lead our troops in wartime, but I’ve lost too many friends on the battlefield to allow that to happen without Congress being involved,” Barrett wrote on X.

He added that the measure would allow Trump “until July 30th to defeat Iran’s nuclear weapons program without putting a single American boot on the ground.”

Under the draft legislation, the administration would also be required to report to Congress every 30 days on military operations, civilian and military casualties, and the legal and policy basis for each action.

Barrett, an Army veteran who served in the Middle East, said Iran must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, but warned against open-ended military engagements.

“If we don’t learn from our foreign policy failures of the past, we are bound to repeat them,” he said. “My AUMF will ensure that if we continue military action in Iran, we do so with clear eyes and a deadline-driven objective.”

The proposal comes amid renewed debate in Washington over congressional oversight of military force authorisations, particularly as tensions with Iran continue to shape US foreign policy calculations in the Middle East.